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Memories & Candles

“LuAnn and family, you are in my prayers. Cherish all the good memories.
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1 of 10 | Posted by: Penni Hewlett - Iowa City, IA

“My thoughts and prayers are with Herb's family. I so enjoyed our visits on the bike trail. He loved my two Siberian Huskies and we had many visits....Read More »
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2 of 10 | Posted by: Jill Armentrout - Des Moines, IA

“Herb will be greatly missed out on the bike trail. He kept it clean and safe for everyone who used it. He also contacted the appropriate people...Read More »
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3 of 10 | Posted by: Vickie Wheeler - Altoona, IA

“Vivian and family, So sorry for your loss. Herb was a fixture in our neighborhood, you never knew where you might run in to him during his daily...Read More »
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4 of 10 | Posted by: Ted, Chris, & Sammie Ross

“So glad he was able to attend Sara and Jesse's wedding in October. Condolences to entire Jackson family for this loss.
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8 of 10 | Posted by: Jeanne & Maurice Wallingford - IA

“Many good family memories coming up to iowa to visit family thru the years. In the last few years went a couple times to the Iowa State fair with my...Read More »
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9 of 10 | Posted by: Laura Dykstra - wichita, KS

“LuAnn and family, so sorry to hear of your dad's passing. Just wanted you to know we are thinking of you.
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10 of 10 | Posted by: Alan and Lois Ibbotson - Tingley, IA

Herbert Ray Jackson, son of Millard & Alice Jackson, was born January 6, 1929 on the farm near Kellerton, Iowa. Herb lived a rich and full life.
Herb graduated from Kellerton High School in 1947. He married his sweetheart, Vivian, on January 20, 1950 in Maryville, MO. They established their home on a farm near Kellerton and raised six children. During his many years of farming, he, along with his wife Vivian, thought the "best crop we ever raised were our six kids." He enjoyed watching them grow into what they would become and the grandchildren and great-grandchildren to follow which enriched his later years.
Later in life, Herb went back to school and graduated from Southwestern Community College in Creston with an A.A. in 1988. Herb sold life insurance for New York Life and was a Pony Express courier until retiring in 1998. He was a creator and a planner. He loved to design and build things. His woodworking projects ranged from frames, cabinetry, the small barn he designed and built himself, to the home deck he designed that resulted in many hours of deck living he and his family enjoyed. It satisfied him to "putter" in the garage and to repurpose the old and discarded into something useful and often beautiful. The planner in him enjoyed computers from accounting, to chronicling his family and daily happenings in photographs, to computer card games like cribbage or free cell. If it was possible to record life's milestones on a spreadsheet, he surely tried. He liked to make goals and achieve them. He loved to garden, whether it was transplanting his mother's irises or roses from the farm to new flowers, plants and vegetables every year. His family and neighbors enjoyed the fruits and beauty of his labors. He enjoyed taking care of his yard and often went out to "walk the ranch."
Herb & Vivian moved into Tingley in 1988 and have made Pleasant Hill their home since 1995. Herb liked to say he was a "tough old bird" and through various accidents and illnesses over the years, it was not unusual for him to walk 8 to 10 miles a day. He enjoyed walking the neighborhood and spent many pleasurable hours walking the trail near his home. He walked with a cane, even when not needed, to knock the walnuts off the trail or, jokingly, to fend off cougars. His trail maintenance will be missed. He made many trail friends, often with canine companions, which he knew by name. He had a life-long love of dogs and most of them loved him back. Herb's trail on this earth may be over, but where one trail ends, another begins. As the song says, "Happy trails to you till we meet again."
Herb passed away on January 11, 2013 at the Taylor House Hospice Home in Des Moines after a courageous battle with cancer. He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter Shirley Rae Jackson on July 27, 2005; brother Dean Jackson and sister Ruth Turner.
Those left to cherish his memory include his wife Vivian of Pleasant Hill; children Nancy Brechler & husband Rick of Le Mars, IA, Dan Jackson & wife Hope of Kellerton, IA, Doug Jackson & wife Candi of Winterset, IA, LuAnn Jackson of Mt. Ayr, IA, and Julie Sonksen & husband Andrew of Ft. Dodge, IA; 11 grandchildren Michael Brechler, Sam Sonksen, Stan (Katie) Stout, Matt (Casey) Stout, Jennifer (Tim) Creveling, Sara (Jesse) Anthony, Kim Brechler, Amelia Jackson, Katherine Jackson, Abbie (Joseph) Williams, Sara (Adam) Shaull; great grandchildren EmmaLeigh and Easton Creveling, Josiah and Theodore Shaull, Desmond and Kordell Shaull, Katelyn and Joslyn Stout; nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.
A memorial fund has been established in his name to be decided later.

Memories & Candles

LuAnn and family, you are in my prayers. Cherish all the good memories.

Posted by: Penni Hewlett - Iowa City, IA - friend Jan 16, 2013

My thoughts and prayers are with Herb's family. I so enjoyed our visits on the bike trail. He loved my two Siberian Huskies and we had many visits. He was an incredible gentleman.

Posted by: Jill Armentrout - Des Moines, IA Jan 14, 2013

Herb will be greatly missed out on the bike trail. He kept it clean and safe for everyone who used it. He also contacted the appropriate people when repairs needed to be be made to the bike trail. He was always thinking of others.

I will miss the conversations we use to have. Vickie Wheeler

Posted by: Vickie Wheeler - Altoona, IA Jan 14, 2013

Vivian and family, So sorry for your loss. Herb was a fixture in our neighborhood, you never knew where you might run in to him during his daily walks. He always had a interesting tidbit of local information to share. They say dogs know "good people", and Sammie always turned in to the Jackson driveway whenever we went by on one of her walks. We'll miss you Herb, God Bless

Posted by: Ted, Chris, & Sammie Ross - Pleasant Hill Jan 13, 2013

My sympathy to LuAnn and her family. Herb was a great guy to know and visit with.

Marilyn Johnson

Posted by: Marilyn Johnson - Delphos, IA - Friend Jan 13, 2013

Our deepest condolences to the family. We are praying that God will give you peace and comfort during this difficult time.
God's blessings.
Dale and Lynette

Nancy, Rick, Mike, Kim, Sara & Jesse; Vivian and family:
You are in our thoughts and prayers. Please accept our sincere sympathy in this time of loss! We had a nice chat with Herb at Sara & Jesse's wedding. So glad he could enjoy that special time with family!

Posted by: Kathy & Den Brechler - Coralville, IA Jan 13, 2013

So glad he was able to attend Sara and Jesse's wedding in October. Condolences to entire Jackson family for this loss.

Many good family memories coming up to iowa to visit family thru the years. In the last few years went a couple times to the Iowa State fair with my Uncle Herbert & cousins and spent a few days visiting at his house. Very special memories now. The family will be in my thots and prayers
Laura Dykstra

Posted by: Laura Dykstra - wichita, KS - neice Jan 13, 2013

LuAnn and family, so sorry to hear of your dad's passing. Just wanted you to know we are thinking of you.